Some of the most common plants that are used for smudging include white sage, cedar, juniper, lavender, cilantro and eucalyptus.

The technique is thought to have originated with the Native Americans, who called it the “Sacred Bowl Blessing”. They used the practice for ridding negativity, restoring balance and peace in the tribe. Like many other ancient traditions that have been kept alive through the centuries, it is now apparent that the practice really does have a positive effect both on the body and the mind.

The health benefits of many different herbs are well documented by science, lavender for example has been proven to help with sleep disorders and chamomile is known to help instill calmness in the body. The quickest way to ingest these herbs is actually by the inhalation of the smoke produced when they are burned, it means the ingredients of the herbs are delivered to the brain much quicker than any other method of using them.

And now studies in ethnopharmacology have shown how smudging is highly effective of purifying the air and eradicating bacteria.

It is reported that:

“ancient knowledge on antibacterial activity of the medicinal smoke during the treatment of a room with the medicinal smoke, emanated by burning wood and a mixture of odoriferous and medicinal herbs… by generating it within confined spaces so as to purify or disinfect the air and to make the environment cleaner.”

A smudging stick is traditionally made by tying a wad of sage leaves to the end of a stick using twine. The stick is lit briefly and then blown out, the resulting smoke that is produced by the smudging stick is taken to all corners of the house and the smoke is left to fill the rooms before it naturally dissipates, ridding the air of impurities.

One study reported:

“Not only did the burning of medicinal herbs clear aerial bacterial populations by 94% within one hour, but a full day later, the closed room was still effectively decontaminated. Even more amazing, a full month later, seven other pathogenic bacteria in the open room were still non-detectable.”